Germany – Astronomical and optical instruments – GSSAC Universal Network of Telescope Arrays (GUNTA)

The German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center e.V. (RFA at DLR e.V.), in the Space Situational Awareness division, plans to procure three turnkey (Technology Readiness Level 9, no (new) development) telescope array systems for passive optical observations (detection and tracking) of space debris, including suitable (global) sites, control systems and control software, as well as subsequent maintenance of the systems (the operational and control software must already be successfully in use in existing (reference) systems). The aim of this project is to install three telescope array systems for the (new) detection and tracking of objects in Earth orbit, distributed globally, integrate them into an existing network of sensors, and bring them into operational use. The systems are to be connected to the German Space Situational Awareness Centre (WRLageZ) and provide as accurate as possible observation data (angular coordinates and apparent brightness) for as small as possible objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) (e.g. Galileo) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). The systems must be designed for fully automated measurement operation and be able to carry out observations centrally ordered by the WRLageZ independently, taking into account environmental influences and the safety of the systems. In doing so, measurement data must be processed fully automatically and made available to the WRLageZ in standardised form (TDM format) almost in real time. No specific requirement for the systems is explicitly mentioned here. The orbital data obtained should be incorporated into the orbital data catalogue created at the WRLageZ and shared with selected national and international partners. This data also forms the basis for the further development of national capabilities for operational space surveillance in the field of passive optical observations. The regular measurement of near-Earth objects provides a valuable contribution to Space Traffic Management and the sustainable use of space, as approaches can be predicted more accurately and thus the number of evasive manoeuvres can be minimised. As destination locations, sites outside the Federal Republic of Germany are envisaged. As a rough guide, the following regions can be assumed: Japan/South Korea, Australia/New Zealand, southern Africa, South America, Mexico. In detail, the following activities are planned: a. Provision of the site in coordination with the client. b. Transport, installation and validation of the systems at the destination site in non-European foreign countries. c. Ensuring maintenance and the operating environment for the first year after acceptance of the systems and additionally ensuring 5 years of maintenance and operating environment each within the project for two options. d. Training of personnel for the operation of the system. A period of a maximum of 18-30 months, presumably starting in November 2026, is planned for the implementation of the task.